The Burren is an unusual and vast landscape on the west coast of Ireland in County Clare. At first blush it looks like a green and grey desert with nothing to be seen. But, like most things, when you look closer you see detail and creativity only mother nature could concoct. The Burren is primarily cracked limestone whose deeps cracks collect water and are filled with nutrient rich soil which wildflowers and grasses flourish in. The Burren National Park has been created to assist in protecting its multiple dolmens, stone circles/ring forts, caves, and megalithic tombs.
Some time between 4200-2900 BC Neolithic people created the masterpiece Poulnabrone Dolmen. Dolmens dot the landscape in Ireland but this one is special primarily due to its size subverting the vastness that is the Burren. It is about twelve feet long and about six feet tall. It is made of stone that is the same color as its surroundings so one could pass right by it without noticing it. The remains of multiple people have been excavated from beneath the tomb which is typical of them throughout the country.
A closeup of the stone
Meet my nephew Michael enjoying the rain in the way only a kid can!
Bulldog Travels / Photos By Jenny 
I rather liked the Burren, I think it suits a grey rainy day!
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It sure does. It’s an interesting unusual place one that isn’t as busy and some other regions on the island.
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Some awesome images. 4200 BC, amazing!!
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Right!? Thanks for visiting!
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These ancient stones are so fascinating to see and contemplate. Your nephew looks like he keeps you on your toes. Hope the brolly will turn right side out again. 🙂
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It sure did. It served him for the rest of the trip. Nephew loves running around all the castles and ruins in Ireland!
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I loved seeing these remains after our ancestors, I had no idea they existed. Wonder what the dolmens were used for? Maybe some kind for tomb or grave?
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Definitely graves primarily for cremated remains is what most of the sites have told me while there. And presumably places of great ceremonial value. So interesting!
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Agreed – very interesting! Would like to be a fly on the wall for those rituals.
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Especially because a lot of it is just speculation anyway. I couldn’t agree with you more. It would also be fun to see exactly how they are made. Thanks for the comment.
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I have always loved the name ‘county clare’ and now I know a little bit more about it…very lovely photos.
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Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.
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What an ancient marvel! It is humbling to get the chance to see and touch it!
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It sure was!
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Nice post Jenny. Typical Irish weather. 🙂
The word Dolmen that you use is yet another example of the closeness of bretons and Irish.
Dol-men in Breton means “pierre couchée”, sthg like like laid down stone, horizontal stone And it is the same word apparently in Gaelic: dolmen. Now Men-hir in breton means up-right stone. Those huge stones stuck vertically in the ground. 🙂 (Incidentally one may conclude that stone is called “Men” in both Breton and Gaelic.)
(I love this stuff. How words travels hundreds or thousands of miles, and remain alive for thousands of years, which I think is how old Gaelic and Breton are)
🙂
Enough rambling: have a lovely week-end.
Brian
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Thanks for the interesting comments. I have also always had an interest in accents of a region as your travel around too. It’s fun for me to try and pick up on them and speculate as to why they are different. Have a great weekend!
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U 2 😎
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Ireland…I must go there some day. I kept putting it off because I wanted to see the third world. But this is the ancient world, and lovely, eh? I have seen dolmans like this (shorter) and stone circles in England…probably some of the same people doing some of the same things…but just what exactly. I’d like to take a time machine back about 4000 years.
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Wouldn’t that be interesting. I would love to do the same thing. But if you could take a time machine back what would be the one thing you would want to see?
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I’d like to go back to see Anne Boleyn beheaded.
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Nice choice!
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I’ve changed my mind if I can see only thing, I want to see them building Stonehenge. I’m a little squeamish around blood.
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That would be pretty awesome. Find out why they are building it while you are there and let me know how the food is.
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!!! food!!
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Thank you for these beautiful photos. I almost bought a place on the Burren years and years ago. I wish I had.
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Its a strange and wild and beautiful place. I wasn’t sure about it the first time I went and then I started looking in to the details and found the beauty. It is so gray compared to the millions of colors of green everywhere else in ireland. That’s what through me off. 🙂
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Wow stunning photos!! I’m glad I came across your blog! 😊👍🏼
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Thanks so much! Likewise.
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Your pictures are gorgeous! I’m assuming you shot them on a rrip to Ireland? Everything is so lush and green! Nice work, and thanks for sharing them!
My best to you,
Sonny Bohanan
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Yes, I sure did. I was there with my family in July. Some of the posts are from a trip where I went with my husband last year. Some of the older posts anyway. Thank you very much for the kind comments. I really appreciate it.
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